Work on Croydon University Hospital's brand new £21m A&E department has finally been completed.

The new emergency department opened its doors to the public for the first time on Sunday (December 2).

It was originally due to open back in March 2017, but the project has been beset by delays. Problems with contractors, asbestos and water pipes were blamed for the delays.

Announcing the opening, Croydon Health Services NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, said it would offer “modern, high-quality facilities” to Croydon patients.

The Trust added that the new A&E has been designed by doctors and nurses at the hospital to create “the best environment in which to care for patients”.

The previous emergency department had been heavily criticised by inspectors on several occasions, having been built to cope for far fewer patients than ended up being treated there every day.

What’s new in the department?

The new department is 30% larger, features a dementia-friendly design, as well as rooms with doors for treatment, rather than curtained cubicles.

There are also two separate paediatric waiting areas - one for children under 12 and the other for adolescents - plus an outdoor space and 14 paediatric patient rooms.

Two mental health liaison rooms have been built where nurses can assess people, as well as a dedicated Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAHMS)

The new Urgent Treatment Centre has six consultation rooms and a treatment room for people with more minor ailments.

In August last year, a new Resuscitation area, where the sickest people are taken by ambulance, began taking patients while construction continued on the rest of the building.

What is the trust saying about the new facility?

Dr Kathryn Channing, lead Emergency Care consultant at CHS said: “We are incredibly proud of what we have built here at Croydon. The new department means our community have access to some of the best emergency care facilities in London.

“Throughout this project we have all worked closely with the designers and construction team to ensure that the department offers exactly the right environment in which to care for our local community now and for many years to come.”

Matthew Kershaw, chief executive, said the opening was a “great day for the Trust, local community and staff”. He also praised staff for working tireless in the temporary facilities that were used during construction.

He said: “As a Trust, we always put our patients needs first and that has led to the creation of this wonderful new Emergency Department which has been designed to ensure we can offer the best care and facilities to local people.

Don’t rush to use it

With winter fast approaching, health authorities in Croydon have, however, warned people not to visit A&E unless absolutely necessary.

The Trust has said the new department is a “welcome addition” to the existing emergency care services in the borough, which include the three GP hubs, at East Croydon, New Addington and Purley - where people can get same-day doctor’s appointments.

For more minor ailments, people are urged to visit a pharmacist, their GP or one of the hubs.

Dr Agnelo Fernandes, NHS Croydon Clinical Commissioning Group Clinical Chair and local GP said: “We welcome the arrival of this modern emergency department which has been designed to meet the needs of our borough’s diverse population.

“While we are delighted that Croydon has access to this new facility, we urge residents to only go to A&E when absolutely necessary. For minor ailments you will get seen much more quickly at a GP Hub or the pharmacist. If you need urgent care but are not sure where to go, dial 111 for advice. For general health advice and to find out where local health services are, residents can download the Health Help Now app and use NHS 111 online.”